New nurse jitters. HELP!

S.N. Visit, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2008

I don't have any advise. I'm also 1 week out, off a 3 month orientation. I'm nervous as heck being "The Nurse", on night shift. Heck, i was nervous to call the house soup yesterday to come over to verify a med! I think it would be abnormal for us to feel comfortable right now!

november17, ASN, RN · Jan 17, 2008

I was talking to one of my fresh-off-orientation coworkers the other day during lunch and she feels the same way that you do. I worked with her on my team the other night and she was doing great, though. It sounds like you have encouraging coworkers though and that's great! I know I felt the same way for a few months (I just got licensed in mid-august 07', myself).

Don't be hard on yourself. Relax on your time off and try to leave work at work. Also, the other thing I can think of is don't rush too much to pick up shifts - Even if the money seems irresistable. If they try to call you in just say no. A day off is a day off and in the beginning you are going to be going through a lot of stress. Find something to preoccupy your thoughts, like a good book or sudoku or something..blast your favorite music on the way home from work. Let your brain adjust and give your neurons time to rearrange themselves. Give your body and mind plenty of rest. Don't shortchange your self on sleep, it will make the transition into an RN role much harder and more stressful.

al7139, ASN, RN · Jan 17, 2008

I have been a nurse for 7 months now, and I also work telemetry. I was terrified when I got off orientation, and was really worried about making errors, and feeling like i didn't know squat! I found that just because I was off orientation, and "on my own", I am still never alone. I always have my TL, and other nurses to bounce stuff off of, if I feel like I am unsure. The other nurses are great at helping me out, and with time, I have felt more and more comfortable. You will find that you will instinctively know what to do in certain common situations, and if it gets hairy, you have your other staff to help you.

I'll never forget the first time I had a pt who was having chest pain, I was so freaked out. Now, it's easy for me to handle situations like this.

Just remember, that it does get easier, you will be fine! Just use your resources, and ask for help. It doesn't mean that you don't know what you are doing, just that you are being safe.

Good luck.

Amy

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2008

I felt the exact same way, for many months after I was off orientation. I'd get all nervous before my shift, never knowing what to expect. That first week or so on my own I would throw up before my shift, get all nervous even on the days I had off from work. It was awful. Once I got in, got my assignment, and knew what the night looked like .... then I'd be ok, but it was the dread of the unknown that had me living in fear!

There is really nothing I can say or suggest to make it easier. Because the only thing that will make it easier is time. You've only been on your own for a week now. But just think about how much more comfortable you are with some things now than when you first started on orientation. Things get better a little at a time .... but it's not going to come all at once.

After I was on my own a few months things got a little better ..... then once I was on my own for about a year I felt even more comfortable. I'd still dread certain things, but things that I used to dread I didn't dread so much anymore.

Also, once you get more comfortable with stuff, the more you won't dread doing it. I used to hate when my IVs would go bad or I'd have to get labs. I LOVE start IVs now and I love drawing labs!

It sounds like you have a very supportive staff and co-workers that are willing to help you out. That's GREAT! I had the same thing. And I got to the point where I realized if any of the things that I dreaded were to happen ..... or if anything came up that I didn't know how to do or didn't feel comfortable with doing, what would be the worst that would happen? I'd just ask for help! It was never as bad as what I had feared.

I've been in the NICU for almost two years and I still have days where I get nervous before going into work. Actually, every day I'm a little nervous before going in .... but it's not like it was before. When I first started I would throw up, cry, and really dread going in. It was those days that when I'd get there I would think about quitting. That doesn't happen anymore. I like what I do and I can't imagine being anywhere else.

I know what you're going through now is incredibly tough .... but please just hang in there and keep pushing forward, because each day will lead you to where you need to be. Good luck to you, I wish you all the best!

socalpca · Jan 17, 2008

I wish I had something positive to say about where you are, but it will get worse before it gets better. The great thing is that it will get better. I've been practicing for 7 months now, and it took me 6 months to get used to being on my own and not feel totally stressed. It's crazy, but just after I hit the 6-month mark, it was like a switch was hit. I felt more relaxed almost overnight. Don't get me wrong, I still get stressed & overwhelmed. The difference is now that I'm better able to handle the unexpected things that always happen on a shift.

Good luck to your career.

shellsgogreen · Jan 17, 2008

i know what you mean - it's hard not to think about it when you're off, as that's really the moments when you have the time to stop and think . i keep a notebook handy, so when something occurs to me, i write it down, so i have that ready for the next shift to make sure i don't miss.

on my off days now, i try to do some yoga, or something equally relaxing, as i know when that alarm goes off in the wee hours of the morning of my next shift, and that feeling of dread washes over me, i want to make sure i'm well rested and ready to face the unknown.

glad to hear that your team is so encouraging - that makes a world of difference.

BayouLPN · Jan 20, 2008

I still think of myself as a new nurse even after 16 months of licensure. I have been in a LTC facility. I absolutely cannot leave work at work. I dream about my residents. I think about what I am going to do next, what I didn't do, what I could have done better. I feel like I am totally obsessed with my job. BUT...in the beginning was much more stressful. For example: I have a resident who chokes easily & is supposed to be on a blended diet. She pitched a fit & family signed a waiver for her to eat whatever she wants. In the beginning, seeing her start to cough & strangle would send my heart to racing and I would break out in a cold sweat calling for one of the other nurses. I walked past a different resident in the dining room the other day who reached out & touched my arm. I looked at her and said "are you choking?" (She was reddish purple in the face) She nodded "yes". I sat down the tray I was carrying, slapped her on the back with one hand while holding a bib to her face with the other. Very calmly, I said: "Spit it out" and kept slapping. The offending piece of food was finally dislodged mere seconds before she would have lost consciousness. I watched her face go from purple back to pink then picked up with what I was originally doing. No heart racing, no sweating, no calling for help. I find that things that used to terrify me, I can handle better now that I have delt with for a long time. As for me not being able to leave work at work...I am changing jobs. I am too close to what I am doing. I care about the people too much. I will still be around for volunteer activities and some PRN but I am going to a place where I don't have the opportunity to get to know my people very well. Hang in there. The uncertainity gets better. And there are too many different nursing fields out there to be totally obsessed and unhappy. Just figure out what your niche is and you will be at peace.